http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377091/
Saw this previewed on Ebert and Roeper. Looks like it played at Sundance and will open soon in LA. Looks really interesting, has Rory Culkin in it (You Can Count on Me), and it reminds me a bit, already, of George Washington. Don't know why. Thoughts?
It looks closer to Bully than George Washington to me, actually...but I'm hoping it leans towards the latter of those two. I'm seeing it Wednesday, so I'll offer my review then.
Trailer here (http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2004/IJKLM/Mean-Creek/trailer-page.html)
Well, if the trailer's any indication, then definitely Bully. But the trailer kind of sucks. Tells you way too much about the movie. At least, IMO. Ghostboy will have to tell us if that's actually the case once he's seen the film.
Thumbs down from me. While the performances are largely good and the direction is okay, the script is stupid. First of all, we've seen this story before. Second of all, kids don't talk like that. Third of all, I'm sick of seeing movies in which characters kill someone and then bury the body after a long discussion over what's the best thing to do. Someday, I'm going to make a movie where they just go straight to the cops. You'd be better off just watching George Washington again, but, in the immortal words of LeVar Burton, don't take my word for it.
Quote from: Ghostboybut, in the immortal words of LeVar Burton, don't take my word for it.
Classic. :yabbse-thumbup:
Quote from: GhostboyThumbs down from me. While the performances are largely good and the direction is okay, the script is stupid. First of all, we've seen this story before. Second of all, kids don't talk like that. Third of all, I'm sick of seeing movies in which characters kill someone and then bury the body after a long discussion over what's the best thing to do. Someday, I'm going to make a movie where they just go straight to the cops. You'd be better off just watching George Washington again, but, in the immortal words of LeVar Burton, don't take my word for it.
Ahhhhh, I planned on seeing this Friday too. ::looks for something else to spend 10 bucks on::
Quote from: GhostboyThumbs down from me. While the performances are largely good and the direction is okay, the script is stupid. First of all, we've seen this story before. Second of all, kids don't talk like that. Third of all, I'm sick of seeing movies in which characters kill someone and then bury the body after a long discussion over what's the best thing to do. Someday, I'm going to make a movie where they just go straight to the cops. You'd be better off just watching George Washington again, but, in the immortal words of LeVar Burton, don't take my word for it.
What about the script did you find "stupid"?
Where have we seen this story before? (Perhaps I need to rent Bully...)
Kids don't talk like what?
Also: it had a grainy look to it, figured it was all digital.
Also: go ahead and delete the thread I made for this, I'll edit my comments into this one....
Here's what I said in the other one:
QuoteLike Stand By Me meets The River's Edge, if David Gorden Green shot it on digital. Excellent little film from a talented 1st-timer. Not a star actor within miles (hell, like 6 adults even get screen time, most have no dialogue), yet really, really well-acted.
All this movie's punches are telegraphed but it plays up to and exceeds your expectations at every turn.
Quote from: A.O. Scott in the NYTThe prank goes terribly wrong, somewhat predictably, and at its midpoint "Mean Creek" takes a melodramatic turn that mars its delicate, observant naturalism.
I didn't find any of it melodramatic. In fact, I found the whole thing fairly understated.
You last visited on Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:40 pm
The time now is Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:53 pm
Wow. Anyway.. Yeah I've seen the previews to this too, and I was slightly interested, however it does look like the characters could be a little predictable..
Who knows if it'll come out in Australia anyway.
Quote from: mister misterYou last visited on Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:40 pm
The time now is Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:53 pm
Don't think you weren't missed.
I was really impacted by this film. It's very strong and horrific. I was completly absorbed in the situation everyone was stuck in and was wondering how they were gonna get out of it. I really put myself in the character's shoes. It's awfully depressing and there were a few moments that I felt were contrived, but it's a very strong film.
I agree with Ghostboy. I thought it didn't work for the most part. The dialogue ranged from fair to bad. It all felt fairly unrealistic for the most part and didn't have the poetic grace of George Washington. They're not similar at all, really.
None of the characters were well developed. It's not that the kids were smarter than kids really are, because they weren't; it was just that the words coming out of their mouths did not fit. I'm not underestimating kids when I say that they don't talk like that. The acting was good, but that just made me wish that they were in a better movie.
It was shot on Super 16, except for the HandiCam stuff, as stated by the director in the 5 minutes of commentary I watched.
I hated the way that the songs were used in the movie. The score was used fine, but the songs were poorly used. Similar to Garden State, the songs were obviously just songs that the director liked and put into the movie. It was all shown as what the characters were listening to in their room or in the car (obviously fading in and out at times to enhance the drama), even though THOSE characters wouldn't listen to those songs, much less at those times. Death Cab? Wilco? The driver of the car was an overly angry white trashy guy, why would he listen to what would be in a college-aged filmmaker's collection? It was just one hip song after another, used almost for the sake of hipness, a la Garden State. I'm sure the soundtrack is awesome, but it's not the soundtrack that Mean Creek should have.
SPOILERS
They kill the bully who HAPPENS to be documenting how sensitive and misunderstood he is? Bull. Shit. He was not an interesting character, because he was nothing beyond that clichéd bully who attacks because he's insecure about himselves.
END SPOILERS
I will admit that some of the music was off, but some also fit (bully filming self in his room). The plot was simple, yes we've seen kids die in accidents before... then again, with film having been around this long there aren't that many new things to do. I thought the presentation was really nice, somewhat disturbing because some of it felt realistic (pressure and such).
He didn't go with any twist, but wouldn't that have ruined the movie? It would've been remembered for that instead of acting or themes.
Regardless of its flaws, it was one of my favorite movies of last year.